Zol Kryger, MD

age 44 started out at about 32H and finally went in for a reduction, even though all the 'after' photos look pretty awful. I did consults with about 5 doctors. Almost didn't do the last consult but I had a friend insist I go to one more and Im glad I did - I had never heard of the Auto Aug before! Dr Zol convinced me to just have a Lift / Auto Aug and assured me that I would be happy. Day of surgery I was nervous that he would not 'reduce' me enough and we had a tough conversation about size. He held up about a two inch wide measuring tape and asked if that was an okay areola size - I thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. Now I was really nervous - this guy thinks thats an okay areola size?? Most doctors shoot for about the size of a quarter I think? Anyway, the results are great, I'm about a 32G or MAYBE a 32F if I lose these 10 pounds. I almost regret saying anything about increased reduction as we all want maximum fullness. I may get fat transfer eventually. One breasts scars healed nicely but the other one very red and angry. He was kind to do scar revision free of charge one year later. Unfortunately it again stayed kind of angry and red. I guess I have one toxic breast? I'm not thrilled with the nipple size, especially when nipples are relaxed and expanded but overall I am extremely happy. I should have done this in my 20s but I probably would not have lucked out then and found this Auto Aug procedure.

The support staff is professional & competent which I find to be important reflection of the practice. They helped me navigate the insurance process better than anyone else. Dr. Kryger and the surgery itself was precise and excellent! Although it was complicated to travel for the surgery, it was totally worth it! I am so glad I flew to California for my top notch top surgery!

I went from 36D to 34B, with about 380 g removed from each breast. I have super dense breasts, with very little fat on them. Dr Zol Kryger operated and Gil Kryger assisted. I took 2 Percocet and Tylenol after the surgery, with no more pain pills after 5 days. Didn't bother icing and hopped around like any normal day. That was not good; I then had a 300cc hematoma that happened, didn't pay attention, and finally called the doctor, who rushed in on a Saturday night to check on me. I was aspirated under IV sedation on the Monday, plus a week after that, i had a seroma that was aspirated under local (took like 30 seconds, not more). Setbacks, but after that, it was just healing normally. They took extremely good care of me and my breasts look perfect. It's been 6 weeks now and I am "free from restrictions." I got my own post-surgical bras (2 of them) and have hand washed them daily. I am using silicone gel, not the strips. I hyperpigment really easily, so I don't have much hope for invisible scars, but it doesn't matter. The shape of the breasts is outstanding. Full, round, they sit up very high, they are so youthful, just like I wanted them. And they are still shrinking. I'm a "big B" now but in a few months, they'll be just very average B. I feel weird posting photos, but since the doctors also feel that they look beautiful, they will put them on their before/after page, I suppose. Insurance covered, with some minimal co-pay. The OR is state-of-the-art, the office is amazing and the staff is super nice. I look GREAT, thanks to Drs Kryger and Kryger.

I breastfed each of my two kids for 13 months a piece, and while I'm very happy I did so (and would do it all over again) it definitely made my breasts deflated. I've been wanting to get implants for awhile and did a lot of research about doctors. I settled on Drs. Zol and Gil Kryger because of they are board certified plastic surgeons, trained at excelled med schools, and were more knowledgeable than any other surgeons I met about the latest studies on surgery outcomes, surgery recoveries, etc. I finally went in for surgery yesterday. I'll do my best to post photos of my recovery. Feel free to share any recovery tips with me!

Updated on 9 Oct 2019:
Day 3, and it's going well. I stopped taking Norco (opiate) the evening of the surgery, so I've only been using Advil and Tylenol for pain management. So far, so good- no discomfort. In fact, I feel so comfortable that I have to be careful not to move too fast, because I definitely have my limits, physically. For example, it hurts if I'm too fast with opening the dishwasher door, or picking up a bottle of juice.

Updated on 9 Oct 2019:
I stopped taking Norco (opiate) the evening of the surgery. Since then Advil and Tylenol have controlled the pain really well. Knock on wood, I'm not having any significant discomfort, as long as I don't push myself past my comfort zone. For example, it's painful to open the dishwasher door, or to lift a bottle of juice.

Updated on 9 Oct 2019:
Day 2 was really rough because I had an Ileus of the small intestine. Apparently the anesthesia shut my intestines down completely, so my stomach wouldn't let anything through. Not only could I not eat, but I couldn't even drink either- I couldn't keep anything down. It's not that I was nauseous, it's that the food/drink had nowhere to go. It was so uncomfortable. The doctor was confident it would let up once my body metabolized the anesthesia medications (which happens within 48 hours of surgery), and he was right- it went away on the night of Day 2, and by today (Day 3) I was back to eating and drinking as normal, as if nothing had happened.

Updated on 12 Oct 2019:
Went in for first post-op with doctor--he said everything looks good, and that my boobs will be smaller. He said there's still a lot of swelling right now, and that the swelling will subside over time. I asked him about breast massage and he said there's no evidence that it works to prevent capsular contracture, nor is there evidence that it affects the final result as to how the breasts feel/look (although it may help them drop faster). He said if I really want to do it I can start 2 weeks post-op. I probably won't do it, as everything feels very stretched and I don't want to push anything past its limit!

Updated on 13 Oct 2019:
Day 6: I think the swelling has gone down ever so slightly. My nipples are less swollen, and I think there is slightly less upper pole volume. My nipples and bottom half of my breasts are still numb, but when I met with Dr. Kryger he said it was a good sign that both were numb because it meant that it was most likely just from swelling, and not because a nerve was severed. Yesterday I inadvertently brushed my hand across my nipple when dressing and felt an uncomfortable jab of pain, which I take as a good sign because it means that the nerves are still there. Nonetheless, it’s disconcerting to have the persistent numbness in my nipples and I’m really hoping it resolves itself soon.
In the photos you can see a lot of stretch marks—those are not actually from the implants, those are from breastfeeding my two kids (I went from A cup to D+ cup when breastfeeding and got really bad stretch marks).

Updated on 15 Oct 2019:
For those of you that haven't had the surgery yet, I'll give you a quick rundown of what I've gone through so far as far as pain management (obviously can vary a lot, but my doctor said my experience is not unusual). Day of surgery I was not really in pain, just fell a lot of tightness in my chest, and couldn't really push or pull anything at all (like, couldn't open a car door). I immediately started taking the Norco I was prescribed, plus 600 mg of Advil, on a 6-hour schedule. The next morning I realized I was really not in that much pain, and hadn't taken a Norco since 11pm on the night of surgery. So I stopped the Norco and just continued with 600 mg of Advil and 500 mg of Tylenol, on a 6-hour schedule. by Day 3 it was clear even that wasn't necessary, and I only took them every 8-12 hours. Now on Day 9 I take 400 mg of Advil during the early afternoon when my breast muscles get a little sore, plus 400 mg Advil and 500 mg Tylenol before bed. Sleeping is still a little tricky because I have to sleep slightly propped up still, otherwise my breast muscles start feeling stretched from the weight of the implants. Honestly, I probably won't even take the Advil or Tylenol during the day anymore, assuming that I continue to be comfortable during the day. I'm able to drive, work, take care of my kids, etc without pain (although I do still have to be careful about lifting, pulling/pushing, and anything that involves a big range of motion with my arms--I still have to keep my arms fairy close to my sides, except for occasional things like slipping a T-shirt over my head.

Updated on 16 Oct 2019:
My right nipple is still completely numb but today for the first time I felt a little bit of sensation in my left nipple. When I touched it lightly with my finger I actually felt it! It was a somewhat painful sensation, like when you've gone snowboarding all day and your toes are numb and they hurt if you touch them. But nonetheless, the fact that any sensation at all has come back I'm going to take as a great sign. The bottom half of both breasts are still numb, though in the past two days I've started feeling sensation akin to a sharpened pencil being dragged across the skin. I think that might be a sign that the nerves are coming back to life.
Here are some new photos. A couple notes: the stretch marks are from breastfeeding, not from the surgery. The three scars visible on the side of my left breast are from a lumpectomy 15 years ago and a heart surgery 35 years ago. The only scars I have from the breast augmentation are the two one-inch-long scars underneath each breast. I'm so impressed by how small those are, considering the size of the implant!

Updated on 17 Oct 2019:
jessfollett asked how I settled on 330 ccs... I basically went to four doctors and said that I wanted a breast augmentation (no lift) and that my top three priorities were:
1) filling out the sagginess left from breastfeeding,
2) creating a "perky" breast, which I defined as more fullness below the nipple than above the nipple, so that the nipples straight ahead or slightly up, and
3) minimizing any damage to nipple sensation.
After meeting with each doctor, I chose the doctor I would go with (Dr. Zol Kryger, who does operations jointly with his brother, Dr. Gil Kryger). Dr. Kryger said that for my goals he suggested a range of 295-355 ccs, using either moderate or high profile implants. He asked me if I wanted to specify the exact size (ccs) and moderate v. high profile. I said that I did not want to specify, because I wanted him to use his best judgment in determining what was needed to achieve my three goals. He seemed surprised but said he appreciated that, because often when a surgeon goes in they discover something about the patient's anatomy that is unexpected (e.g., the breast pocket is tighter or looser than expected, or nerves are in a certain configuration) and he appreciates the ability to adjust the size and profile in the operating room in order to achieve the patient's aesthetic goals. The end result was that I woke up with 330cc moderate profile implants :). Funny thing is, they are exactly the size I was when I was breastfeeding. My best estimate, though I haven’t tried on regular bras yet, is that I am a 30/32 D or DD. Once I try on regular bras I will update…

Updated on 21 Oct 2019:
Surgery was exactly two weeks ago. As long as I don't lift anything I have no pain. If I lift even 5 lbs I can feel a tightening in my chest and shoulders, and if I lift that for too long (say, carrying a purse or a backpack) I get really sore in my neck and shoulders and have to take Advil. But other than that I don't have to take any pain meds. My energy level is great and I can't wait to start working out.
Nipple sensation is still a problem- I have a little bit of painful sensation if I touch my left nipple, but no sensation at all in my right nipple. The bottom half of each boob is also numb. The doctor said it is still possible that the sensation will come back when the swelling goes down, but if not then I have to assume a nerve was severed and it will take up to a year or longer to grow up. Boo! But other than that everything is fantastic with my boobs. They are not heavy at all (in fact, I don't feel any difference in weight on my chest). They are still too high, as you can see especially in the profile photo, but it is still early and I am not doing any banding or massaging, so they will take a few months to drop.

Updated on 24 Oct 2019:
Here are today's photos of bare boobs. A couple things that I like to remind people of:
-The stretch marks are from breastfeeding, not from the breast augmentation
-My nipples point in wonky directions because of breastfeeding (love those kiddos, though! They're worth it!)
-I'm not massaging or using bands, so my implants will drop very slowly. So, they're still frustratingly high.
In a minute I'm going to figure out how to upload photos of me wearing various bras...

Updated on 24 Oct 2019:
Ok, so here are the bras I’m wearing. I’m going to try to edit the captions to write in the brand and size.

I finally did it, I'm only about 2 days post op with 440 cc implants. I did not want more scars due to my abundance of stretch marks so I was very much against a lift. However, I decided last minute to get a donut lift and I'm happy with the results, my only concern is the swelling at the shelf of my breasts. It doesn't seem to be going down at all and the tightness is overwhelming at times.

Is this healing properly? or should I be concerned?

Updated on 10 Jul 2017:
Super happy with how the breasts are dropping, I experienced some leaking and bleeding from my left breast and its still a bit swollen. I'm 3.5 weeks post op and the bleeding stopped about 5 days ago. I was nervous at first but so happy about the way they are turning out now.

Updated on 11 Sep 2017:
I'm currently using scar strips every damn day and the scarring seems to be going down but I'm still kind of worried about the shape of the larger nipple or left breast. It seems to be much larger and I'm a little concerned about the awkward shape.

Also is weight gain normal after surgery? I'm a little paranoid and know I've probably put on wait due to the recovery time but also feel as if my implants have added a couple lbs. Any insight on this?
Updated on 5 Oct 2017:
My nipples are really sensitive and dry. The skin is flaking off a lot and my left breast has a sort of weird flat shape like its being stretched. Will this go away? My right breast is round and points at the nipple and I'm very happy with this one but the left breast the nipple is SOOO much larger and it hurts all the time.



Updated on 8 Nov 2017:
I wanted them to look sexy, and I think they do so far the scar strips have been working wonders but I'm afraid my left one (left breast in front photo) looks weird? it was the most tuberous of my two breast and it hung a lot lower, not its still kind of tube shaped.

Updated on 13 Nov 2017:
Dropping weight finally, I’ve veen hitting the gym but seeing no results til lately. Holding a lot of water weight i guess.

Starting to love my boobies now!

Updated on 2 Jan 2018:


Updated on 28 Apr 2018:
Scarring still an issue but I may be using my scar strips for too long at a time. UHHH ALSO the scars are still pretty bad but the dark scar? tissue over my nipples has been pealing off so they are a lighter color now, in the brighter lit photos you can see the color change.

Updated on 27 Jul 2018:
So I was super sad and depressed over my scarring. I went to a dermatologist and got scar treatment for a huge keloid under my right breast. It seems to have worked really well. It has gotten dark since the after photo though (1 month ago) but im using scar strips again.
I thought Id be more proud of my breasts but 10k later I feel depressed and very uneasy about showing them to someone. I feel like i have Frankenstein [RS bleep]. I haven't actually been with a man yet, and thought getting these "fixed" would help me gain the confidence to be more sexually free. However I feel almost more ashamed due to my ignorance to how grotesque the average person views plastic surgery procedures. Even though i had a deformity it feel as if people still treat it as if I "ruined" myself. I dont regret doing it. I regret getting a lift from my doctor. I just feel like I look like Frankenstein's bride to be. Has anyone else experienced this kind of feeling?

I had a breast reduction and Blepharoplasty on 12/31/2014. I chose that day to have at least 5 days before I had to work with clients on the phone. I work from home and did not need to look better so no worries there. They d not see me.

I have had large breasts my whole life and they did not fit me physically and they were pulling my back apart. They weren't so big that they were extreme but I am 5'5" and weigh about 125. One was a double D and one was an E and getting bigger. am 48 years old. I saved the money and paid cash so I could pick my doctor. He was great and right around the corner from me.

I had very little bruising on my breasts and have been off pain killers since the 5th day. I do take ibuprofen per my surgeons recommendation but only as needed.

I did take natural supplements before the surgery that I believe helped a lot. I went off all flax and herbal supplements two weeks before. No aspirin or derivatives. I took Bromelain capsules for the week before, twice a day and after twice day. I also took Arnica the night before, the morning of, right after I got home and once more that evening. I continued with Arinica for two more days twice a day and stopped on the after the 3rd day.

I iced my breasts constantly. I ran out of ice and my ice maker could not keep p with me. I had ice packs but they did not work. I ended up using plastic sandwich bags inside plastic quart sized bags to keep them from leaking I iced as much as I could and this helped a lot.

I pre-ordered a surgical bra. They gave me one after the surgery but I new I would need another. I have used them both constantly. I am not in the stage where the incision points are a little sre and my nipples hurt a little but for the most part I feel great. I have not had any alcohol, drinking green juices, limited all sugar and am eating lots of high fiber high protein meals.

I did get constipated and swear by drinking prune juice. If I would have known I would have drank the minute I got back from the hospital. They don't like to talk about nausea or constipation. I took 5 fiber pills two times a day and ate high fiber food and still got constipated.I took exlax twice in a 12 hour period and still nothing. Drank some prune juice and got better within hours. Back to normal now but prepare for this.

I also did not want to get nauseous. They gave me a script for one pill I took right before surgery and it was expensive and I can't remember the name. I also had oral nausea pills that dissolved and I took two of them over the course of the next two days.

I felt super tired most days but walked as much as I could to help my body along. Four days ago I did a mile walking on the treadmill and today I did 2 miles. Taking it slow and listening to my body.
I am not sure what size my breasts will end up. I asked for a smaller C. It will take some adjustment but I will not be lighter (already feel better about that) and I can buy clothes that fit and are appropriate.

Updated on 6 Feb 2015:
I probably would have gotten in better shape, it is hard to work out during recovery. I am 5 weeks post op and I am just getting back into lifting some weights.
I would have bought a few more bras.
My number one biggest peeve about this is not knowing I would need support that has a big band around my rib cage instead of the way bras ride up. Most of my bras and support ride up on my stitches and hurt. I would have bought something that snugged up on my ribcage and did not ride up. I am 5 weeks out and have had to be very creative as far as support goes. Thankfully I have a lot of sports bras and have used those to wear. I still ache at the stitches site and wear support all the time. The bra they sent me home in is not a bra so you will need to think about getting some support garments that can adapt as you heal for weeks.
I feel great though! My back has completely quit hurting. It used to hurt and be out all the time and now it never hurts.My shoulders don't hurt. I feel lighter all the way around. So happy and would do it over and over again.

Updated on 15 Apr 2015:
Feeling really good. I did recover well and am happy about the herb combos i took in order to make sure y recovery was shortened.
I still have pain around around and in my nipples. I think a little of it is hormones. I am very very gad I got this done. I am sad that they did bot make them smaller. I have very dense breasts and paid out of pocket. I now have very solid D cup breasts and wanted to go to a C. Losing weight does nothing for the size so I am suck about 1 cup size too large. They are perky, my back feels better and my scars are slowly going away.
My surgeon recommended silicone strips for the breasts. There are donut shaped ones and strips of silicone you can order on amazon. I wear mine all the time, except when I shower. They are not cheap but I am careful with them and they have been lasting over 2 months.

Hope this helps someone out there. I would do it again but be more clear about going down to the size I want. I am afraid they will start to blow up again due to hormones.

Omg why did I not do it sooner!!!!They couldn't look any closer to my natural breast. I went from a deflated A to BOOBS! !!! Only 12 hours post op but I am beyond thrilled. If you're on the fence jump. These implants look like my boobs did when I was 18 before weight loss weight gain 3 kids and YEARS of nursing. I am shocked and thrilled

Updated on 25 Oct 2014:
Picture journal
Updated on 25 Oct 2014:
I LOVE my boobs!!!! Surgery was yesterday, so this morning I am a bit swollen. Pain with 650mg of medication is very tolerable. Breathing first 16hours was really tough. I wish I did it years ago but this implant was not available till a couple years ago and my ex.......I am so excited to finally wear tops and dresses I couldn't have worn before. Beyond happy!!!!!!!



Updated on 31 Oct 2014:
I LOVE my new boobs but I'm wondering if they are big enough. I am not swollen at least not that I can tell and my Sientra classic shaped implants are pretty hard. I heard they don't drop much if at all due to the texture and shape but they eventually soften as the muscle relaxes. My surgeon said they will get softer but not bigger. Not sure what my problem is. I am feeling down....post surgery blues???

Updated on 10 Nov 2014:
I am out of the blues BUT man I wish I went bigger! !! I was so paranoid about going too big. I wanted natural and I have it. I have been getting a LOT of "wow you look really good, did you put on a little weight? Something is different. .." with family and friends I say look closer and I stick out my chest. It's pretty funny that they look so much a natural part of me that even those I know well don't realize I have BOOBS :) from 34A to 32DD or 34D

Updated on 21 Nov 2014:
I still have some morning soreness, but very very little. I've been back to working out. I did dead lifts which was probably a bad idea because now I feel my right boob moving more. I don't know if that's normal or not. I think my right is slightly fuller at the bottom, but not too bad. I'm hoping that will change in the next month or so as everything continues to soften. I have noticed my nipples are pretty out there so I'm going to keep the pads in my sports bras :). I really love the look and feel. I feel sexy feminine and more confident. It's so strange; it really made a difference in how I view my body and feel. Im finally balanced

Dr.Zol and Gil Kryger are very informative, helpful and reassuring. I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Breast Cancer in 2012. I was referred to them by my Oncology Surgeon and had a Bilateral Mastectomy. Dr. Kryger came in to do immediate reconstruction after the mastectomy. When I was finally cleared of Cancer and ready for my reconstruction, these doctors gave me the best results I could possibly have. After undergoing the shock of the diagnosis including several rounds of chemotherapy I was at such a vulnerable place in life. These doctors explained everything to me and answered all my questions. Dr Gila and Zol Kryger made me feel whole again.

Dr. Kryger was a senior resident when I had my tummy tuck at the resident clinic at Northwestern University. He did an amazing job and years later, I still love the results!! I only wish he was there now to do the breast augmentation I am considering now, that I should have done there. I'm so pleased with the results, I might just make a trip out to LA to finish my mommy makeover.

I had twins, who are now almost 9. Since I am Asian and petite, having twins over stretched my stomach and left a hole in my abs that I could feel. After surgery, I have the flat abs and definition I had before I got pregnant, even now at 42! You can't go wrong with Dr. Kryger.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
Here are my before photos taken 11/2007. Before pregnancy, I was 120 lbs. I gained 45 lbs. when pregnant with the boys.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
I currently weigh 128 lbs. and will be turning 43 this year. I am still extremely happy with my results. Since I'm Asian, I have a tendency to have dark scars. For the most part, my scars have faded, although some are still dark, but all are flat. They are low, so they do not show up when I wear a bikini.

Updated on 18 Mar 2014:
There is a workout that I found online called the 30-Day Ab Challenge. I did that in January. I'm trying to maintain it by doing 200 crunches a day. Still a work in progress, but well worth it!

Hmm…. how do i effectively convey the significance of a life changing experience?
One moment I was picking up my sons tux for prom night, and the next I found myself undergoing lifesaving emergency abdominal surgery, that left me gutted like a fish with and sporting a colostomy bag. The reversal of that procedure left me with an inch wide, thick ugly scar from breast bone to pubic bone. I was happy to be alive and accepted that as a price I had to pay. But then, at point over the next couple of years I began to develop incisional hernias that quickly grew to horrific proportions!
Initially, my condition was misdiagnosed. But, after a lot of internet research and looking through a myriad of disturbing hernia pictures, I learned that there’s a big difference between being out of shape and being misshapen. I then knew that I needed to get a second opinion from The Kryger Institute. I was completely convinced that the doctors there had the knowledge, skill, and experience to diagnose and treat my condition appropriately.
So, I went to battle with my insurance company, for the right to get a second opinion from the Dr. of my choosing (Dr. Zol Kryger), as opposed to just another one of the general surgeons they wanted to send me to.
I am now very thankful that I chose to fight that fight!
As soon as Dr. Zol took a look at me, he immediately and correctly diagnosed that I had a massive complex abdominal hernia that would require a much more in-depth procedure than the usual mesh patch fix that is commonly done by general surgeons. After he examined me, he took the time to explain to me what had happened to my body, and what he could do to repair the damage in a way that would greatly minimize the chance of recurrence. He then ordered the follow-up procedures that would definitely confirm his diagnosis, and would reveal the scope and intricacies of the situation.
I left his office feeling hopeful for the first time in a long time… he clearly cared, and would do all he could help me.
After another protracted debate with the insurance company, I was finally able to have the surgery successfully done, and covered fully by my insurance! The Kryger Institute provided the documentation I needed to support my case, and Dr. Zol himself wrote a very effective and pivotal plea on my behalf. Throughout this labored process Dr. Zol was personally available to me via phone calls and email to answer any questions that arose, and to provide vital assistance when I needed it.
In my substantial experience, that is an almost unheard of relationship to have with any Physician, especially a surgeon! The peace of mind, and enhanced trust and confidence in your surgeon that comes from knowing that you can fairly readily get in touch with them if you need them is priceless.
But the surgical process itself is where the true difference and genius of The Kryger Institute becomes fully realized.
Dr. Zol was my primary surgeon; but he and his brother Gil both put their extensive expertise to work for me. They are both are consummate professionals and most importantly are perfectionists when it comes to their craft…and if there’s one place you really want a perfectionist at work for you, this is it!
At the Kryger Institute you get two of the most highly acclaimed surgeons in their field, “for the price of one”! They perform all of their surgeries in tandem, acting as assisting surgeon to one another. In doing so, they act as a check and balance on one another, which is always a good thing. But even beyond that, I believe that the sibling rivalry/relationship that we’re all so familiar with, acts as an innate and powerful motivation that continuously drives them closer to those goals of perfection that they continuously strive for.
They work together in a way that very few people do; or probably even could. They think enough alike to support and enhance one another’s work, while still retaining the individual perspective and point of view that pushes the other to always be at their best. It is truly a brilliant working relationship, and the benefit is all yours!
My surgery was a long and complicated one. I sent six nights in the hospital and 3 months recovering at home; but I would do it all again in a heartbeat!
I can’t say enough, I’m beyond thrilled with the experience and the results.
I have been given back the body that I recognize, and the confidence that I thought I’d lost forever, which would in and of itself have been more than I could have hoped for. But perhaps even more significantly, I feel physically and mentally 20 years younger! I have more energy, a renewed sense of balance and agility, fewer aches and pains…etc. How much is due to physically having my guts put back into place and regaining the use and strength of my abdominal muscles, and how much is due the psychological boost of feeling and looking like myself again, I can’t say? But I do know that I owe it all to the Krygers, and I can’t recommend Drs. Zol and Gil highly enough… they’ve given me more than money could ever pay for. The Krygers have given me back a sense of myself that I thought was lost to me, and I will forever be grateful!

Updated on 17 Dec 2013:
With traditional hernia repair, an incision is made over the herniated area and mesh is then attached over the break in the musculature to act as a patch to reinforce and bridge the area.
The procedure that was used in my case is known as “Component Separation” or “Separation of Parts”; this procedure is used to actually repair the abdominal wall defects rather than to simply patch over them.
There are three distinct layers or bands of abdominal muscle that run from the muscles along the spine, wrap around the sides of our body, and attach on to the core abdominals (the “eight pack” muscles that run down the length of the abdomen).
With Component Separation, they release the tension in the outermost layer of those side muscle bands with a “relaxing incision” that partially separates it from the eight pack muscles, and then they separate the abdominal side wall into its separate layers, or components. This releases enough of the muscle tension to enable them to bring the muscle wall back together with less resistance once everything is put back into place.
Next a screen is placed over the abdominal cavity, but UNDER the abdominal muscles, which allows it to act as a strengthening first line of defense, instead of a over patch trying to hold everything together. Each layer is then closed individually for added strength and “quilted” down to its neighboring layer with a series of internal sutures to allow for faster, better healing.
A repair of this kind replicates the abdomen’s natural resting muscular tension as closely as possible. And because you’re abdomen isn’t under such extreme tension during healing and beyond, you’re much less likely to have the incisional area open up again on you in the future.